Key Takeaways
- The number of teenagers vaping daily has decreased to 7.1 percent, down from 10.1 percent in 2022.
- The perception of vaping is changing, with fewer teenagers trying vaping and a significant decrease in daily vaping rates.
- Regulation has made an impact, but overregulation could push people back to smoking.
- There is a need to address the vaping rates for rangatahi Māori, with 16.5 percent of Māori teenagers still vaping on a daily basis.
- Vaping products are too accessible for young Māori and Pacific, leading to an entirely preventable inequity.
Introduction to the Vaping Trend
The number of teenagers vaping daily has dropped to 7.1 percent, down from 10.1 percent in 2022, according to a survey of more than 30,000 of New Zealand’s Year 10 students. This survey, conducted by Action on Smoking and Health, has indicated that the perception of vaping is changing, with fewer teenagers trying vaping and a significant decrease in daily vaping rates. The number of teenagers who vaped regularly, once a month or more, had tripled between 2019 and 2021, peaking at 20.2 percent. However, the latest survey has found that number has halved since then, with "vaping not as cool as it used to be," according to chairperson Emeritus Professor Robert Beaglehole.
The Impact of Regulation
The regulation of vaping products has also made an impact, with the government banning the sale to those under 18 in 2020. This ban has contributed to the decrease in vaping rates among teenagers. However, Beaglehole feared that overregulation could push people back to smoking, which is a more harmful habit. He emphasized that vaping helps adult smokers quit and is much, much less harmful than smoking. The country is raising a smoke-free generation, with a "negligible" number, about 1 percent, of young people smoking on a daily basis since 2021. This is a major global success, and New Zealand is leading the way in reducing youth smoking and vaping rates.
Concerns about Alternative Nicotine Products
However, Otago University associate professor Andrew Waa has raised concerns that teenagers may have switched to oral nicotine products instead of vaping. He believes that rather than talking about a smoke-free future, we need to start thinking about a nicotine-free future for our young people. This is a concern that needs to be addressed, as nicotine products can still have harmful effects on young people’s health. Waa also pointed out that vaping products are too accessible for young Māori and Pacific, leading to an entirely preventable inequity. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the vaping rates among these groups.
Addressing Vaping Rates among Rangatahi Māori
Beaglehole has also called for more to be done to address the vaping rates for rangatahi Māori. Although there has been a significant decrease in the last year, 16.5 percent of Māori teenagers still vape on a daily basis. This is a concerning trend, and more needs to be done to support these young people to quit vaping. Waa emphasized that the rates of vaping among Māori and Pacific youth are an entirely preventable inequity, and addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that includes education, support, and access to resources.
Conclusion and Future Directions
In conclusion, the decrease in vaping rates among teenagers is a positive trend, but there is still much work to be done to address the vaping rates among certain groups, particularly rangatahi Māori. The regulation of vaping products has made an impact, but it is essential to strike a balance between regulation and accessibility to ensure that adult smokers can still access these products to help them quit smoking. Additionally, there is a need to address the use of alternative nicotine products and to promote a nicotine-free future for young people. By working together, we can continue to reduce vaping rates and promote a healthier future for all young people.
